Is weight loss with Adderall normal?

my2cents · Site Admin Joined: 12 Apr 2007 Posts: 166

In terms of weight loss potential, yes, Adderall does have that effect for many people. In fact, Adderall was formerly sold under the brand name Obetrol back in the 1960's for use as an anorectic - or, appetite supressant. But now, its primary usage is to treat individuals with ADD/ADHD, and is rarely prescribed for weight loss. There are plenty of other drugs available for weight loss which don't have as many side effects as Adderall can cause.
My experience with Adderall - at first - I got the feeling of not being hungry most of the time, and therefore losing weight as a result. But, that tapered off after some time of being on it. My normal appetite returned after maybe a year or so. This is only my experience with it. It could be totally different for other people taking it. I have read a lot posts on various forums about Adderall, and one thing is certain: It can have many different effects for many different people. It can be very effective when taken as prescribed, and at the lowest possible dose which will also give the maximum therapeutic benefits. Its just a matter of finding the 'right' dosage, which can be a bit tricky, but eventually it works out.

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After many years struggling with being overly hyper, the inability to sustain any decent long term relationship romantically and friendly, being misdiagnosed and feeling like my mind was on a rollercoaster and my body was standing at the concession stand, I was told I have ADHD and it was amazing I was never told this before. Upon this diagnosis I was prescribed Adderall 20 mg for the morning and 5 mg for later on in the day. I wasn't completely sure of the side effects and never really knew that it was the same thing people in school use to talk about when they wanted to loose weight. I will admit I have lost a lot of weight on the drug, but the side effects plus the reason the medicine is suppose to be used for I would NEVER use it for this reason. The normal side effects for people with ADHD taking Adderall that personally suck for me is extreme headaches & dry mouth. But most importantly, people have to understand that ADHD is a very bizarre disorder and if you are taking a drug that treats this disorder but you do not have it....how do you not realize that you are royally screwing yourself up? As an example:
Me personally, this was my life as a non-medicated person: I usually had a hard time waking up because at night I couldn't go to sleep; my brain would run laps of information through my head constantly, I would sit up and think about everything all the time any time. I would finally fall asleep at about 2 then wake up a few hours later wide awake and ready to go, so I would have to get up and read, take a shower or something to go back to sleep, by that time I only had an hour or two before I had to get up for school or work. I was constantly late to everything, people started to either not invite me to events that required promptness or they lie about the time so I would hopefully show up. I would have about 10 projects going at a time and could never answer my boss fully on how I was coming a long on any of them. I had to work full time, go to school full time, do volunteer work or baby sit or clean or something to keep myself busy because I couldn't stay still. People hated going out with me because I was never tired and never ready to leave. I would do stuff on a whim and then when I would finally think about it I would be so upset with the situation that I would go into anxiety mode. I would literally run my body down until it would basically fail on me by either extreme sickness or severe stomach problems. My brain constantly said, "Come on you can do it all, you don't need to sleep!" It's like my body had no say in the matter. I also was very excessive and couldn't ever budget myself or control myself when it came to specific things, I drank to blackout, I shopped like I had money, I said yes to every one like I was a million people in one. Nothing was ever enough, I always felt like there had to be more. I talked, worked, did things and thought at 100 miles an hour, there was no such thing as clam, relaxed and content.
I know this is long but the point is, that Adderall helped control all these behaviors; by taking a medication strong enough to do that IS NOT HEALTHY OR GOOD FOR YOUR MIND OR BODY if ADHD is not the reason you are taking Adderall. Please think about what you are doing...

siromar · Newbie Joined: 07 Jul 2007 Posts: 1

I see a lot of self-righteousness in some of the posts and would like to add my personal experience to balance things out.

Adderall is a drug. Alcohol, caffeine, and nicotine are all drugs. Just like any other drug, it can have significant negative consequences, or it can enhance your life considerably. The key is to be responsible, and to stop once you achieved your goals.

I was prescribed 20 mg of Adderall for weight loss by the family doctor about a year ago. I weighed 290 lbs and I'm 6'4 tall. 3 months ago I reached my weight-goal of 210 lbs and stopped taking it. Since then, I regained my appetite and had to adapt to controlling my urges naturally without the drug. I've gained 4 pounds in the first month but seem to have it under control now (I weigh 213 at the moment).

Here are the pros and cons from my experience, and the experience of others I know.

Cons:

1. Insomnia. Make sure you take the drug early in the day. I have had many 2 and 3 hour night because of taking it too late (6 hours before going to bed for an example). While the effect should only last 4 to 5 hours, it can keep you up much longer. I do not seem to have trouble when taking it 10 or more hours prior to going to bed.

2. Mood swings. Adderall will most likely make you happy. I tend to get a "oh isn't the world wonderful" kind of an attitude when I take it. While this may sound like a pro, I do not think it is. For one it is unnatural. Also, your newly-found sentimentality means every little thing will offend you. You can be happy one moment, then the most minor of things will tick you off and ruin your day. Get used to it, and try to control your emotions.

3. Addiction. You will get used to being on the drug, and you will feel out of sync on the days you do not take it. This usually pushes people to continue taking it for as long as they can. It can lead to try other stimulants like Meth or Cocaine. Please don't. Adderall will most likely cause some neurological effects in the long run. I do not have personal experience with that, but it is just simple logic. Take it while you need it, stop when you're done.

Pros:

1. Appetite suppression. And i mean major appetite suppression. At first, I could go on the whole day without eating and would not miss it. I tried not to do that as I know it is unhealthy. I felt the appetite suppression was great as it enabled me to have complete control over my eating habits. I would make sure that I ate 1500-2000 calories every day, and that I had enough exercise. Do not kill yourself to lose weight. You'll just gain it all back once you stop. Develop healthy eating habits and stick to them.

2. Increased energy. I can exercise like a madman when on Adderall. It makes exercise exciting and worthwhile. Make sure you do get some exercise when you're trying to lose weight.

3. Increased focus. I was going to school while taking Adderall, and I never felt it helped me study. Ive always been quite capable of studying, and Adderall didn't change that. I was a good student before and after Adderall. I know a lot of people who take it to study, and it seem to help them quite a bit. It did help me with work though. As a computer programmer I used to work about 6 hours before I'm completely exhausted. I could work for 12 hours straight while on Adderall and it truly increased my income. Smile

So know the facts and do some research before making a decision. But I can testify to the effectiveness of the drug.

Live responsibly.

Upton O'Goode · Silver Member Joined: 30 Jul 2007 Posts: 170

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I've been on Adderall for several weeks now (to treat ADD) and it works miracles as far as my ability to organize and complete tasks, however, I haven't lost a pound! I was hoping for that side effect and still am. I'm on 40 mg a day (1 pill/2x/day). Does anybody have any insight for me?

By the way, I would not be taking this drug if I didn't have ADD because some of the side effects can be rather unpleasant.

Upton O'Goode · Silver Member Joined: 30 Jul 2007 Posts: 170

Upton O'Goode · Silver Member Joined: 30 Jul 2007 Posts: 170

abfreitas142 · Newbie Joined: 06 Oct 2007 Posts: 1

i have ADHD and when i was in 7th grade i took adderall and it really work. i was really skinny(100 pounds no i did not have a eating disortor) before i when on it and i didnt gain any weight while i was on it. so my mom took me off it i gain 40 pounds in less then 3 months i got really depressed . iam 18 now and iam back on it . i wouldnt go on it unless you have ADHD and are going to be on it forever because the effects of going off of it just isnt worth it.

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I am 18 years old, I was prescribed 40mg of Adderall XR per day right before my senior year in high school started. During the first three days of using it I lost about 15 pounds (granted, I had that much extra weight to lose). After a few months I had lost almost 60 pounds. I quit taking Adderall everyday because I did, and still do, hate the way it makes me feel but I am glad I took it because of the weight loss. In my opinion though, Adderall should never be used strictly for weight loss. It just happened to be a nice side effect for me.

Is weight loss with Adderall normal?

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